Convict Gets 21 Months For Reagan Threat

Letter Proves Costly

April 08, 1989|By DOUGLAS ASHLEY Staff Writer

NORFOLK — In March 1988, 24-year-old Robert C. Hill II, frustrated and angry after spending more than three years in jail for passing bad checks, fired off a nasty letter to President Reagan in Washington.

Hoping for a reply, the western Virginia native made sure to include his return address: St. Brides Correctional Center, Chesapeake.

That made the FBI's job easy. On Wednesday, Hill was given more jail time - 21 months in a federal prison - by U.S. District Judge John A. MacKenzie. The crime was conveying a threat to the president.

The letter he wrote was not introduced as evidence and has not been made public. Neither the prosecutor nor the defense attorney would reveal the nature or specifics of the threat.

Hill's attorney, Steven Emmert of Virginia Beach, said Hill's letter to Reagan was an act of a frustrated young man - not a serious threat against the president.

"He was frustrated at being in jail," Emmert said. "Who in their right mind would fire off a threat and put their return address on it?"

Well, Hill did. He pleaded guilty to the charge in January.

Emmert wasn't suggesting his client was not of sound mind. A psychological evaluation has confirmed that he was, Emmert said.

"Of all the people there in court, he was the only one who had a document certifying that he was sane," Emmert said.

It's just that the charge seemed a bit much, he said.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert W. Wiechering disagreed.

"Any threat made against the president is taken pretty seriously," Wiechering said.